New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) After a long dry spell, torrential rains since Monday claimed at least 19 lives in various parts of the country, including Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, besides disrupting normal life in the national capital and Chandigarh. Heavy downpour since Monday morning claimed seven lives in Maharashtra’s eastern Vidarbha region, cut off hundreds of villages and caused disruption in road traffic at some places, official sources said.

The worst affected was the Chandrapur city and district which recorded a rainfall of 1200 millimetres in the 48 hours ending 8.00 a.m. Tuesday. The bulk of the rainfall occurred in the early hours of Monday, causing three deaths in a wall collapse in Chandrapur city.

Three more people died in a lightning strike in Malewada village of Nagpur district whereas a farm labourer was washed away in Wardha district.

A massive 3150 mm rainfall was recorded in Chandrapur district in the seven days between July 30 and August 5, out of a total rainfall of 9383 mm recorded since June 1, district collector Pradip Kalbhor told IANS.

Those who died in Chandrapur were Shyamsundar Hiralal Tandon, a trader, Ashwini Girsawale, a housewife, and Donuji Gurnule, a labourer.

On Monday afternoon in Malewada, a farmer, Ramu Khandal was busy transplanting paddy in his farm along with farm hand Raju Kshirsagar when lightning struck killing Khandal and severely injuring Raju, who is under treatment.

Another lightning strike hit Vasant Ingole, Sanjay Gowardipe and Namdeo Pangul in a farm some distance away a while later. While Ingole, a farmer, and Gowardipe, his labourer, died on the spot, another labourer Pangul survived but suffered severe burn injuries.

Bhagirath Surjuse, a farm labourer in Wardha district, was washed away in river Wardha while trying to cross it on his way back home after the day’s work in village Sukli. His body was spotted near a bridge Monday.

Heavy rains continued to lash parts of Andhra Pradesh for the third consecutive day Tuesday as the death toll in rain-related incidents went up to 12.

The rains, caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, flooded rivers and streams, inundated low-lying villages, threw normal life out of gear and damaged properties and crops in several districts.

The incessant rains, which followed a long dry spell, caused havoc in Adilabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam districts in Telangana region and the Krishna, East and West Godavari districts in coastal Andhra.

Officials said 12 people, including six children and three women, were killed, mostly due to drowning in flooded rivers or in house collapses, during the last two days.

Three children and an adult were killed when an under-construction building collapsed at Tuni in East Godavari district.

In Karimnagar district, three people, including a nine-year-old boy, were drowned in the swirling waters of the Godavari when they went for a holy dip Monday. Five people, including two children, were drowned in Adilabad district.

Adilabad district was the worst-hit with floods rendering 10,000 people homeless, damaging 1,000 houses and crops in over 15,000 acres. Hundreds of sheep and goats were also washed away in floods. One shepherd was drowned while trying to save sheep.

In Delhi, people woke up to a wet morning Tuesday as incessant rains, that started Monday afternoon, continued to lash the capital.

The pleasant weather, however, turned ugly for many as traffic came to a standstill and officegoers were stuck at many places.

Traffic snarls were reported from almost all parts of the capital. Commuters were stuck in massive jams near Dhaula Kuan flyover, ITO, Punjabi Bagh, Ashram Chowk and on Ring Road.

“Traffic movement was affected at many places. The roads in the capital have many potholes adding to the woes of drivers,” Joint Commissioner (Traffic) S.N. Shrivastava told IANS.

The traffic police have shot off letters to Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Public Works Department, National Highways Authority of India and New Delhi Municipal Corporation regarding the condition of over 150 potholed roads in the capital.

The capital has received 90.4 mm of rainfall since 8:30 p.m. Monday night, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Continuous rain for the past fortnight in and around Agra has brought cheer as well as despair to the citizens and tourists here.

The welcome change, of course, is the rain washed Taj Mahal against a lush green backdrop with the waters of the Yamuna flowing in full spate.

Heavy showers in Mathura, Vrindavan and Goverdhan also affected movement of pilgrims.

In Chandigarh, the rain was normal but as it turned streets into rivulets here the claim of the municipal authorities of being prepared for the monsoon turned out to be hollow.

Pedestrians and drivers had a lot of trouble Monday evening as vehicles broke down. Many could be seen taking shelter under trees and at bus stops while others pushed their stalled vehicles.